Elias Says...

MLB

Harper

Harper and the Nationals walkoff with a win

Bryce Harper's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning snapped the Nationals' six- game losing streak. Over the last 60 years only four other players as young as Harper - 20 years, 282 days old - hit a walkoff homer: Al Kaline in 1955, Jay Johnstone in 1966, Andruw Jones in 1997 and Miguel Cabrera in 2003.

Junior Lake went 1-for-4 in the Cubs' loss to the Diamondbacks giving him 15 hits in his first seven games in the major leagues. That matches the most hits any player has ever had in his first seven games with the Cubs since 1900. Hall of Famer George "High Pockets" Kelly had 15 hits in his first seven games with the Cubs in 1930. Kelly came to the Cubs late in the 1930 season.

Mark Buehrle threw a two-hit shutout for the Blue Jays against the Astros. It was the fifth time in his career - which began in 2000 - that Buehrle threw a shutout and allowed two or fewer hits. Only four other pitchers have as many such games in the regular season over that span: Roy Halladay (seven), Felix Hernandez (five), Tim Hudson (five) and Justin Verlander (five).

John Buck knocked in three runs in the Mets' win over the Braves Thursday afternoon. It was the sixth time this season that Buck knocked in at least three runs in a game as a catcher. The last Mets catcher to have six such games in one season was Mike Piazza in 2005 (12).

Only one other player has had six games with at least three runs batted in as a catcher this season: Colorado's Wilin Rosario also has six such games.

Justin Verlander was the losing pitcher in the White Sox victory over the Tigers. Verlander has earned a decision in each of his last 21 starts against the Chisox. That's the longest current streak of games started with a decision for any pitcher against any team. Verlander is 13-8 in those 21 games.

Edward Mujica earned his 30th save Thursday night in the Cardinals 99th game of the season. Only one Cardinals pitcher reached 30 saves in a season in as few team games as Mujica. Lee Smith got save #30 in the Cardinals 83rd game in 1993.

Kuroda

Yankees need more Hiros

Hiroki Kuroda lowered his earned-run average to 2.51 with seven shutout innings for the Yankees. Over the last 40 seasons, only three other Yankees pitchers had an ERA that low in their first 21 starts of a season: Ron Guidry in 1978 (1.99), Phil Niekro in 1984 (2.28) and David Cone in 1997 (2.49).

Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-4 Thursday night, all off right-handed pitchers. Stanton entered the game hitless in his previous 19 at-bats against righties, one shy of the longest such drought of his major league career. Stanton went 0-for-20 against righties spanning the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

The Royals bullpen threw three scoreless innings in relief of Jeremy Guthrie Thursday night. Kansas City relief pitchers have combined for a 1.40 earned-run average in games started by Guthrie this season, the best bullpen support for any pitcher that has had at least 10 starts.

Nick Franklin hit his eighth home run of the season, all as a second baseman and all since May 30. Only two players have hit that many homers as a second baseman since that date as Franklin: Dan Uggla (11) and Robinson Cano (8).